KDC chief highlights challenges faced by present-day elected reps
KAPIT: The challenges faced by the ‘wakil rakyat’ (elected representatives) of today are vastly different from those in the early days, says Lating Minggang.
The Kapit District Council (KDC) chairman points out that in line with progress, the rural communities are now more demanding as they are able to access the Internet and conduct benchmarking with their counterparts in other areas.
“Furthermore, such access has enabled the public to post their comments (on social media), of which they also expect to receive fast feedback from the ‘wakil rakyat’.
“Indeed, the people do set high expectations for the elected reps with regard to their needs and demands,” he said in a statement Friday.
Hailing from Sungai Sut, Lating said his fellow longhouse villagers wanted a capable and effective leadership in Pelagus.
“They want to have their voices represented in DUN (State Legislative Assembly) Sarawak.
“Also, there must be continuity in the implementation of projects that have been planned for Pelagus earlier on. In this respect, I have no hesitation in giving my undivided support to the incumbent (Wilson Nyabong Ijang) to continue on as our ‘wakil rakyat’ for Pelagus,” he said.
Nyabong, 62, is being fielded by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to defend Pelagus in the state polls this Dec 18, where he will face contenders Solomon Kumbong from Democratic Action Party (DAP), Moses Ripai from Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru, Datuk Kristoffer Nyuak Bajok from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), and Nyambong Sibat from Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK).
According to Lating, Pelagus still needs more developments coming in, and Nyabong is deemed as ‘the right person who can make that happen’.
“The people of Pelagus still need an agent of change like him (Nyabong) – one who will continue the transformation agenda for Pelagus.
“Thus, he needs to be given the opportunity to continue what he had started in Pelagus – he has done well throughout his first term as assemblyman for Pelagus,” said Lating.
In the state election of 2016, Nyabong polled 3,778, which earned him a comfortable winning majority of 3,284 votes.